The Huia, is the shortened name a large water bird that lived in south Australia and the north of new Zealand called Heteralocha acutirostri. The water bird became extinct in the 19th century but fossils have been dated back 400,000 years ago.
Habitat
The Huia lived in the South of Australia and on the North Island of New Zealand. The Huia was used to predominantly cold and wet whether, due to where it was situated. The winds were very strong due to their position to the coast. The Huia has adapted to stay very warm and its feathers along with most water birds are water resistant. This keeps the Huia warm compared to its surroundings.
The Huia lived in trees and would form nests, but spent most its time on rocks on the shoreline in the sun, or in the shallow reefs and beaches. The Huia ate small fish and insects, which were fairly easy to catch on the reefs.
The Huia uses a similar method to reptiles in that it they sit on rock and use the sun for warmth, similar to the basking method of reptiles. This is effective because of the strong sun during the day and allows them to stay warm during the night and to get warm after fishing
- The water bird had a very long and narrow beak, which was specifically used for catching small fish and insects. The long ark of the beak enables the bird two stretch deeper and catch fish. The beaks thin size made the penetration into the water faster and there for making it more successful at hunting
- The legs of the Huia are almost identical to the Australian magpie, with the strong and powerful core but the base of the leg is very light and thin. The largest similarity is thickly padded foot with the back talon being similar to that of an owls or an eagles
- The Australian Magpie and the Huia share a very similar behavioral adaptation of being very social birds, often found in groups. They do this for protection, by helping defend each other’s nests from intruders.
- The Huia along with every magpie (other than the Australian magpie who has and extra tail feather) has ten primary flight feathers and ten secondary feathers that also act as protection against rain and wind, although it spreads its tail constantly, when Magpies only spread them whilst flying.
- The Huia uses bright coloured flaps that are situated on their cheeks to attract fish, and once they are close enough they use their long beaks to catch and eat it.
Selection Pressure
The Huia became extinct due to hunting by humans. Maori and Aboriginal Tribes hunted the Huia very heavily, and reduced there habitat from South Australia and the North Island of New Zealand to just the south of the North island of New Zealand. Although traditional restrictions on how much Huia could be hunted, the Huia quickly decreased, although in the south part of the North island of New Zealand it still flourished and was managing at a healthy level. The Huia quickly became extinct soon after European settlers came and took over. The large use of land and the abuse of the rest ended in the extinction of the Huia.
The Huia, is the shortened name a large water bird that lived in south Australia and the north of new Zealand called Heteralocha acutirostri. The water bird became extinct in the 19th century but fossils have been dated back 400,000 years ago.
Habitat
The Huia lived in the South of Australia and on the North Island of New Zealand. The Huia was used to predominantly cold and wet whether, due to where it was situated. The winds were very strong due to their position to the coast. The Huia has adapted to stay very warm and its feathers along with most water birds are water resistant. This keeps the Huia warm compared to its surroundings.
The Huia lived in trees and would form nests, but spent most its time on rocks on the shoreline in the sun, or in the shallow reefs and beaches. The Huia ate small fish and insects, which were fairly easy to catch on the reefs.
The Huia uses a similar method to reptiles in that it they sit on rock and use the sun for warmth, similar to the basking method of reptiles. This is effective because of the strong sun during the day and allows them to stay warm during the night and to get warm after fishing
Cabanis, 1851
Adaptations
- The water bird had a very long and narrow beak, which was specifically used for catching small fish and insects. The long ark of the beak enables the bird two stretch deeper and catch fish. The beaks thin size made the penetration into the water faster and there for making it more successful at hunting
- The legs of the Huia are almost identical to the Australian magpie, with the strong and powerful core but the base of the leg is very light and thin. The largest similarity is thickly padded foot with the back talon being similar to that of an owls or an eagles
- The Australian Magpie and the Huia share a very similar behavioral adaptation of being very social birds, often found in groups. They do this for protection, by helping defend each other’s nests from intruders.
- The Huia along with every magpie (other than the Australian magpie who has and extra tail feather) has ten primary flight feathers and ten secondary feathers that also act as protection against rain and wind, although it spreads its tail constantly, when Magpies only spread them whilst flying.
- The Huia uses bright coloured flaps that are situated on their cheeks to attract fish, and once they are close enough they use their long beaks to catch and eat it.
Selection Pressure
The Huia became extinct due to hunting by humans. Maori and Aboriginal Tribes hunted the Huia very heavily, and reduced there habitat from South Australia and the North Island of New Zealand to just the south of the North island of New Zealand. Although traditional restrictions on how much Huia could be hunted, the Huia quickly decreased, although in the south part of the North island of New Zealand it still flourished and was managing at a healthy level. The Huia quickly became extinct soon after European settlers came and took over. The large use of land and the abuse of the rest ended in the extinction of the Huia.